Pressing machine



1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. F. HANNEY 'PRESSING MACHINE Filed Jani 11,

May 26, 1936.

INVENTOR ANGus EHANND! A. F. HANNEY PRESSING MACHINE INVENTOR ANGUS F. HANNEY ATTO Patented May 26, 1936 UNHTED` STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSING MACHINE Application January 11, 1935, Serial No. 1,330

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a pressing machine of the type generally used in laundry and garment work.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pressing machine with few operating parts in which a head is movable by hand into registration with a pressing bed, the surface of which is thereafter raised into ironing engagement with the head by power means automatically controlled by movement of the head into registry.

Another object of the invention is to provide a press as above described in which the pressing surface of the bed is raised by means of a distensible fluid-tight cover member and the supply of fluid to said cover member is by way of valve mechanism which is automatically operated upon movement of the head into registry with the bed.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a counterweight exactly counter- 20 balancing the w-eight of the head so that it remains in or out of registration with the bed when so placed by the operator, together with the automatic means for raising the bed into pressing engagement with the head for a pressing operation as above described.

Another feature of my invention is the arrang-ement of fluid actuated means for causing pressure engagement between the bed and head when they are in registration and including novel valve control means for the motive fluid which actuates said means.

The novel features of my improved press and control mechanism therefor are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the attached specification and the essential features will be summarized in the claim.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an end elevation partly in section of a pressing machine embodying my invention with the pressing members in their ironing position; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the pressing members in their open position; while Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine of Fig. l.

On a frame I!) is mounted a pressing bed II. Directly beneath the bed a shaft I2 is rotatably mounted in bearings on theframe It. Rigid with the shaft I2 are a pair of arms I3 spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the bed and supporting at their upper end by means of a cross arm It a pressing head or chest I 5 which` is adapted to coact with the bed I I and is provided with a handle Il whereby an operator may move the head forwardly and rearwardly into and out of registration with the bed. Suitable means, not shown, may be provided for heat- (Cl. (S8-9) ing the pressing head. Rigid with the shaft I2 are arms I 'I which support a counterweight I8 in a manner to balance the weight of the head I5. This counterweight may be made hollow if desired and provided with plugs I9 and I9 for 5 access to the interior so that the counterweight may be filled with an amount of liquid adapted to exactly counterbalance the weight of the head I5. Also rigid with the shaft I2 is an arm 2@ which is connected by a link 2| with an 10 arm 22 which is operatively connected to a double acting snubber. This snubber is of a well known type and comprises an outside casing 23 housing a piston 2li which is adapted to be reciprocated by the operating lever 22. Each end of the snubber casing is provided with an adjustable tapered pin 25 which is adapted to engage a bore 26 in the piston. As the piston 24 reaches the end of its path of travel in either direction, the bore engages the tapered pin thus reducing the orifice through which the iluid may flow and producing a retarding effect on the piston 24 and a corresponding effect with head I5.

Means is provided for raising the pressing surface of the bed into ironing engagement with the head when the latter is in its registering position. The means illustrated comprises a flexible, distensible and substantially fluid-tight cover member Z'I which is secured to the bed I I by fluidtight connections 23, thus providing a closed compartment 29 between the cover member and the bed. This cover member may be made of rubber` or impregnated fabric. For distending the cover member, supply conduit means is provided including a source of motive fluid 3U, a release valve casing 3l, conduit 32, supply valve casing 33, and conduit 35 in series. Release valve casing 3| houses a normally closed outlet Valve 3| a. and a normally open inlet valve 3 Ib mounted on a common valve stem 3Ic which is operable by manual 3IOZ. Valve casing 33 houses a normally open outlet valve 33a; and a normally closed inlet valve 33h mounted on a common stem 33o. This valve casing 33 and its operating stem 33o are so placed that the valves are automatically moved out of their normal position by a part of the press operating mechanism as the head is moved into registry. As illustrated, the valve stem 33o lies in the path of one of the arms I3 so that the valves are moved to their actuated position as shown in Fig. l when the head reaches registration with the bed. Fluid is thereupon admitted through open valve 33hl and conduit 34 to the compartment 29, expanding the cover member 21 into engagement with the head.

Cil

To release the press the operator actuates manual 3ld, temporarily closing inlet valve Sib and opening outlet Valve Sla. This permits the uid to exhaust from compartment 29 and upon movement of the head out of registration the valves in casing 33 return to their normal position as shown in Fig. 2 which closes valve 33h and opens valve 33a so that the operator may release manual 3Id.

It will thus be noted that I have provided a very simple press with few operating parts in which it is only necessary for the operator t0 grasp the handle l5 and move the head forwardly whereupon the press closes. Opening of the press is just as simple as it requires only the actuation of manual Sid and in case counterbalance I8 holds the head in registration it is only necessary to push the head rearwardly.

What I claim is:

In a pressing machine, a frame, a pressing bed on said frame, a coacting pressing head, manually operable mechanism on said frame for moving said head into and out of registry with said bed, and uid actuated means for moving the pressing surface of said bed into engagement with said head when the latter is in registry, said means including fluid supply conduit means having a release valve casing and a supply valve casing in series therein, said release valve casing having a normally open inlet valve and a normally closed outlet valve and a manual for moving said valves to close said inlet valve and open said outlet valve, said supply valve casing having a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve, and said valves in said supply Valve casing being arranged to be actuated by said mechanism when said head moves into registry to open said normally closed inlet valve and to close said normally open outlet valve.

ANGUS F. HANNEY. 

